Ramblings of a Roving Rune Caster
The rune Eihwaz is the thirteenth rune in the Elder Futhark. It is the rune of defense, aversive powers, and Yew Tree.
For the last year, I've started these columns with a short overview of the rune being discussed. To those of you who have been with us from the first column (in January of 1997) this makes perfect sense. But, we have gained many new readers, so let me review briefly.
The runes are a language which in ancient times was reserved for magical use - for example as an oracle. The individual runic symbols are known as glyphs, and the collected glyphs are known as a futhark. Most rune masters today use the Elder Futhark which contains 24 glyphs.
Eihwaz, the glyph we're studying in this column, is the 13th of those 24. Eihwaz is said to be the rune of defense; however, it is also the rune of Yggdrasill or the world tree. The mythic world tree connected the nine worlds of the Nordic multi-verse.
Yggdrasill's central axis runs from Hel or Niflheim, through Midgard or earth, to Asgard or the home of the gods. Nidhug, a giant serpent or dragon, continually chews on the great roots of the world tree. His job is to eat through the roots and kill the world tree. When the world tree dies, so do the gods.
On the other end, a giant eagle sits on the topmost branches of the world tree. Sitting in between his eyes, Vedfolnir, the falcon, sees all which goes on in the nine worlds and reports it. But, in between was a mischievous squirrel, Ratatosk, who would travel up the vertical axis of Yggdrasill gossiping between the dragon and the eagle.
So, what does this have to do with defense. Quite a bit. For all his mischieviousness, the cosmic squirrel does a critical service. He communicates between heaven and hell. Or to say it another way, he helps to link the magic of life and death, creating the defensive power of Eihwaz.
See, this communication between the mythic tenants of the world tree is critical to its eternal existence. The ancient Nordics might say the same is true for us. The cosmic eagle and falcon at the top of Yggdrasill also demonstrate the defensive magic of Eihwaz. They are ever vigilant. They pay attention to their surroundings and know everything going on in the nine worlds of the Nordic multi-verse. This awareness is also part of the defensive magic of Eihwaz.
In the fourth column of this series, we talked about Algiz, the rune of protection. We talked about how a deer is protected by noticing and reacting to movement in the rushes at the side of a stream. The attentiveness of Eihwaz is similar. The cosmic eagle and falcon know all, so Odinn knows all and can react as needed. In the same way, by knowing and understanding what's going on around us, we can defend ourselves.
Even Nidhug, the dragon at the base of the world tree, can teach us something about defense. He chews on the roots, chomps at the roots, bites at the roots, nibbles at the roots, and consumes the roots. Then for good measure he has hoards or devouring worms to help him.
As the grade school teacher would say, "He works well with others." I don't mean to make too much fun of the Nordic mythological characters. But, just like in ancient times, working with others is important.
The dragon teaches us something else important. He's been working on those roots for all time. Its the right thing for him to do. His destiny, if you will. As the Nordic sages would say, for Nidhug, trying to devour the roots of the world tree is right action.
We should take our example from him. We defend ourselves from much harm in the spiritual as well as the mundane realms by doggedly, diligently, and determinedly striving toward full knowledge of the Self. Or, to say it as we did before, by right action.
So, the creatures living within Yggdrasill teach us much about the defensive magic of Eihwaz. Communication, attentiveness, and diligence are all traits which we can use to defend ourselves and others. They are traits which are useful in the spiritual, emotional, and mundane realms. They are traits which are demonstrated in the magic of Eihwaz.
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